As spring transfer deadlines approach, plenty of college students are considering making a move. Whether they’re feeling dissatisfied with their classes, switching majors, seeking a more COVID-conscious campus, or unhappy with the Greek scene, about 14% of students seek greener pastures each spring. Here are some tips for tackling the transfer process mindfully so you can make the most of your opportunity.
KNOW THE NUMBERS
Unsurprisingly, the more selective the school, the tougher it is to transfer in. Ivy League schools in particular seek to admit transfers from nontraditional backgrounds: Princeton, for example, only started admitting transfer students in 2017 and “particularly encourage[s] applications from students from low-income backgrounds, community college students, and U.S. military veterans.” Yale echoes this statement nearly verbatim. In 2021, Brown admitted 118 out of 2,746 transfer applicants (4.3% acceptance rate), and Stanford admitted 55 out of 3,265 (1.7% acceptance rate). A small liberal arts college like Colby “reserves a handful of spaces” for incoming transfer students each cycle.
To maximize your chances of transferring to a new school, create a balanced list including larger schools with higher transfer admit rates. Northeastern admitted 20% of transfer applicants in 2021, while the University of Michigan admitted 41.5%; but, bear in mind that transfer acceptance rates at public universities like the University of Michigan and the University of Washington are inflated by the high number of applicants taken from in-state community colleges.
CONSIDER WHETHER YOUR MAJOR IS TRANSFER-FRIENDLY
When evaluating transfer applicants, admissions officers want to know if a student will succeed academically and make a unique contribution to the school. Not only are certain majors like biology and computer science oversaturated at most schools, but these majors also require a linear progression of coursework. Selective schools aren’t eager to gain more bio or comp sci majors, and it becomes increasingly difficult to satisfy departmental requirements the later a student applies for transfer admission in their college career. For example, if you hope to transfer as a junior, you’ll need to have fulfilled all prerequisites for that major at your new school. Credits in introductory business courses won’t transfer for a student who decides they want to study music elsewhere.
The most transfer-friendly majors? Humanities subjects, where students study a breadth of courses as opposed to a linear progression: English, art history, philosophy, religion, etc.
BEAR IN MIND: IT’S NOT A CLEAN SLATE
If you still blame your AP Chem teacher for sabotaging your shot at your dream school, you should know that grade won’t disappear when you apply as a transfer applicant. Though admissions officers will place more emphasis on your college grades, they’ll look at your high school transcript, too. For extracurriculars, they’ll put more weight on what you’ve done in college. So, you won’t get much credit for being your high school student body president if you’ve been spending your extracurricular hours on Fortnite in college; but, if you started a multifaith council at your college while advocating to make your campus more accessible for people with disabilities, your transfer school might be a bit more forgiving of a “C” you got freshman year of high school.
Transfer Essay Guidance
Get our expert guidance on your transfer essays.
BE POSITIVE IN YOUR ESSAYS
Save the weepy confessionals for your new roommate once you’ve successfully transferred. No admissions officer wants to read an essay about how unhappy and lonely you are. Remember: you want them to think to themselves, “This is the kind of student we need on our campus!” With that in mind, write your essays from a position of strength. Maybe you’ve outgrown your department, or your specialization has evolved, and now you’re looking for a specific set of courses that only this new school can offer. Perhaps you’ve thrown yourself headlong into the amazing cognitive science lab at your school and now all you can think about is the chance to study epistemology with a certain philosophy professor at this other school.
Guidelines on the admissions blog of Cornell, one of the more transfer-friendly Ivies, spell out this idea: “Essays should convey an applicant’s unique story—how did they chose their current institution, how have they benefitted from the opportunities offered there, why do they wish to leave, and why do they want to pursue their academic goals here in the College of Arts & Sciences and at Cornell more broadly?”
Put a positive spin on your experiences and focus on your scholarly interests. Leverage your essays as opportunities to show how you’ll jump right in and make meaningful contributions to your new community.
TAKE TIME TO REVIEW THE TRANSFER REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH SCHOOL
Almost every school has a page on their website devoted to transfer applicants, indicating information like how many credits and what supporting documents you’ll need as well as standardized testing policies, and the timeline for admissions. The Common App for Transfer Students introduced a few years ago has made the process easier.
You’ll need a recommendation from a college professor—not a high school teacher—which can be difficult for students who haven’t had a great experience at their college so far. It’s not too late to make a meaningful connection with a professor by going to their office hours. A few trips to ask a question or continue a discussion from class can go a long way toward securing a strong recommendation. Ideally, you’ll have enough time to start these interactions early so it won’t come across as a last-ditch effort before you make your big ask.
APPLY TO NEW SCHOOLS
Hoping you’ll get a different answer if you ask again? Not likely. Colleges will retrieve the application you submitted senior year of high school and will be looking closely at your new one for evidence of significant growth. Having been denied once, you’ll face a bit of an uphill battle trying to convince them of the “new you.” Do some soul searching to figure out where you’d thrive. Visit friends at other schools. Set your sights on new horizons. This is your second shot; let us help you make the most of it!
Anita holds a BA in Philosophy from Princeton, where she is an alumni class officer and former interviewer, and an MA in English from Middlebury. At Princeton she also contributed her drive and competitiveness to the women’s lacrosse team, winning an NCAA Division I National Championship and three Ivy League Championships while earning national scholar-athlete academic distinction and the Connie McAllister athletic department award for “effort, selfless dedication, enthusiasm and heart.” She brings these qualities to her relationships with students as she helps to bring out the best in them.
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One reply on “How to Transfer”
#1 I think Top Tier is a great business- They deliver! #2: Please let your students know about Princeton and Yale. They do NOT accept almost anyone except military veterans and community college transfers. I am certain 11 of 12 transfers at Princeton were either of those categories, as a friend was one of those cohorts. And I heard it was the same each year. And Yale is no different. No other Ivies, I am aware, cater to those two cohorts like Princeton and Yale. It is HIGHLY dishonest of the universities NOT to inform those not in the latter categories that they have virtually ZERO chance to be admitted.